Mounting adapters for switch cases



Feb. 2, 1965 w- TL SORENSON 3,168,612

MOUNTING ADAPTERS FOR SWITCH CASES Filed Oct. 10, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1ZLMMW ATTORNEY Feb. 2, 1965 w. T. SORENSON 3,168,612

MOUNTING ADAPTERS FOR SWITCH CASES Filed Oct. 10, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2ATTORNEY 3,168,612 MOUNTING ADAPTERS FOR SWII CH CASES Wesley T.Sorenson, West Hartford, Conn., assignor to Carling Electric, Inc., WestHartford, Conn-, a corporation of Connecticut Filed Oct. 10, 1962, Ser.No. 229,652 9 Claims. (Cl. 17457) This invention relates to mountingelements and more particularly to adapters for attaching electric switchcases to mounting plates.

According to the present invention, there is provided a means forattaching an electrical switch case and its associated button actuatorby snap action to a mounting plate, said means comprising a unitarysheet metal element which has been blanked to provide support componentsand resilient snap components which form an assembly with the switchcase.

, Means are provided on the adapter for accommodating the switch case inany one of several different locations on the adapter so that the casemay be placed in a desired. position relative to the mounting plate.Thus, the adapter may be utilized for switch cases and their associatedactuator buttons which have different sizes and shapes. I

. Certain portions of the adapter are blanked into spring elements whichnot only perform the function ofv supporting the switch case and adapterassembly in position upon the mounting plate, but also act to enhancethe connection between the adapter and the switch case so that thelatter is secured firmly in position.

Furthermore, the blanking of the unitary piece of sheet metal in themanner described hereinafter also brings about the formation of anintegral flange which lies flush against the outer face of the mountingplate so that the switch button extending therethrough-is surroundedwith an ornamental frame.

All of the characteristics of the adapter described hereinabove andhereafter are achieved by the blanking and forming of the variouscooperating and functioning elements from a single piece of sheet metalor the like whereby the resulting simple and inexpensivedevice iscapable of the multiple functions that are required to be performed. v

Still other objects and advantages of .the invention will be apparentfrom the specification. b The features of novelty which are believed tobe characteristic ofthe invention are set forth herein and will best beunderstood, both as to their fundamental principies and as totheirparticular embodiments, by reference to the specificationandaccompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of aface portion of a switch mounting plate with a portion of the adapterelement of the present invention shown surrounding a typical electricswitch. button;

. FIG. 2 is a side view of the device shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a topview of the device shown in FIG. 1, some parts being omitted; i FIG. 4is a greatly enlarged fragmentary view' of the device shown in FIG. 2;,1 FIG. 5 is a greatly enlarged exploded perspective rear view of thesnap-inadapter together with a fragmentary,

portion of a switch case; p

. FIG. 6 shows the frontelevation ofa-snap-in adapter mounted in'a}switch plate and supporting a plurality of switch buttons, said adapterbeing another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. '7 is a side view of the device shown in FIG. 6; FIG. 8 is a topview of the device shown in FIG 7; FIG. 9 is a greatly enlargedfragmentary view of'a portion of FIG. 7; and

United States PatentOfitice 3,168,612 Patented Feb. 2, 1965 FIG. 10 is agreatly enlarged perspective exploded rear view of the snap-in adaptershown in FIGS. 6 through 9.

In its preformed condition, a snap-in adapter of the present inventionis constituted of a rectangular piece of metal, such as steel, brass,aluminum or the like; which is blanked and formed, usually in a singleoperation, into a device having a flat rectangular frame portion,generally designated 11, comprising spaced apart side flanges 12 andspaced apart end flanges 13. The flanges lie flat against the outersurface 14 of a switch mounting plate 16. FIGS. 1 through 5.

Extending rearwardly through a rectangular aperture 17 in plate 16 arespaced apart bracket elements 18, each formed integrally with arespective flange 13.

Brackets 18 extend rearwardly of the rear face 19 of plate 16 for aconsiderable distance and at their respective outer end portions thereis integrally formed by blanking or otherwise, a pair of forwardlyextending spaced apart spring elements 21, whose free ends are arcuatelyformed into bows 22 which are extended outwardly from the respectiveplanes of brackets 18. Each bracket 18 and its pair of spring elements21 have an aggregate width which is very nearly the width between theinner edges of flanges 12 forming the space from which said brackets andsprings have been blanked out. Both lateral edges of each bracketelement 18 have an array of spaced apart-slots or notches 23, each ofthe notches along one edge of a bracket being aligned with acorresponding notch on the other edge.

The switch that is to be mounted on switch plate 16 by means of theadapter comprises a rectangular case 26 molded or otherwise formed ofnylon, Bakelite or the like. Case 26 has a plurality of terminals 27extending from the bottom thereof. Mounted on the top and enclosing theinterior of case 26 is a sheet metal plate 36,

each end of which has a pair of integral spaced apart arms 32 extendingover the opposite sides of said case. The ends of arms 32 are bentinwardly and engage shoulders 33 on case 26 to retain plate 31 inposition. FIG. 2. v

Plate 31 has a pair of spaced apart, upwardly extending integrallyformed brackets 34 which support pin 36 on which switch button 37 ispivotally mounted for manual actuation of the electrical elements insidecase 26.; At the juncture between the top and each side of case 26,plate 31 has a pair of short, outwardly extending spaced apart,integrally formed lugs 39 which are adapted to engage a correspondingpair of notches 23 in bracket 18.

In operation, the switch assembly, including case 26.

I plate 31 and button 37, is first mounted upon the adapter by theinsertion of pairs of lugs 39 into repesctive pairs of notches 23 inopposite brackets 18. The size and the depth of a particular case 26 andits spatial relation with button 37 will determine which pairs ofnotches 23 will be selected for engagement by-lugs 39. Button 37 extendsthrough the adapter aperture formed. when brackets 18 were blanked andbent rearwardly. Brackets 18 have a suflicient amount of spring tensionto support case 26 therebetween.

Thereafter, the combined adapter and switch assembly are passed throughaperture 17 of mounting plate 16 until flanges 12 and 13 lie flatagainst the outer surface 14 of said plate and case 26 is suspendedbetween brackets 18 behind rear surface 19 of plate 16. Due to theoutward spring tension exerted by elements 21, spring bows 22 are urgedagainst the top and bottom edges, re-

assembly are not only supported firmly within mounting plate 16 :butalso inverse pressure is exerted back upon brackets 18, so that thesecure engagement between lugs 39 and notches 23 is enhanced.Furthermore, by virtue of the outward curvature of bows 22, the adapteris secured to and removed from plate 16 by spring-like snap action.

FIGS. 6 through 10 illustrate another embodiment of the inventionwherein the same reference numerals are designated for parts which aresimilar in structure and function, to those in FIGS. 1 through 5,although the comparable parts may differ somewhat in dimensions.

Widenedframe 11 now' contains an array of four switchbuttons 37, two ofwhich are mounted upon switch case 26a and the other two on case 2612.Each. case 26a and'26b contains two sets of switch systems, each ofwhich are operated by respective'button 37.

Here also the adapter is blanked from a unitary piece of sheet metal andformed into a pair of rearwardly extending, spaced apart brackets 41.Each bracket 41 is blanked at intervals to form a plurality of spacedapart spring elements 42; One end of each element 42 is integral withthe rear portion of said bracket while the free end thereof extendsforwardly and somewhat outwardly toward flange '13. The forward freeends of elements 42 terminate in arcuate bows 43 which engage the inneredges of aperture 17 in the same manner as bows-220i spring elements 21.See FIGS. 4 and 9.

Between selected pairs of spring elements 42, rear-' wardly extendingportions 44 of bracket .41 are provided on their edges with a pluralityof spaced apart pairs of slots or notches 45, each of said pairs beingadapted to accommodate a corresponding pair of lugs 39 extendingoutwardly from the sides of cases 26a and 26b,

respectively.' Depending upon the depth of cases 26a and 26b and the,size of button 37 and the distance of the latter from the former,particular pairs of notches 45 will be selected for engagement by lugs39 properly to locate said components relative to mounting plate 16 bymeans of the snap-in adapter.

Opposing brackets 18 (FIGS. 1-5), as well as opposing brackets 41 (FIGS.6l0), are originally arranged relative to flange 13 at a particularangle whereby the insertion of the opposite two pairs of lugs 39 intonotches 23 and 45, respectively, causes the outward flexure of 4 to restagainst the front face of said mounting plate, said brackets and springelements extending rearwardly from said plate, the forward ends of saidspring elements engaging a pair of' opposing horizontal edges of saidaperture by snap action to maintain said adapter in position on saidplate, and a plurality of spaced apart notches formed in each bracket,said notches being formed at varying distances from the forward end ofeach respective bracket, said notches being selectively engageable bysaid switch case to be suspended between said brackets in a desiredlocation relative to said mounting plate, said spring elements urgingsaid respective brackets towards each other to ensure engagement of saidswitch case therebetween. Y

2. An adapter for attaching a switch case to a mounting plate having anaperture therein, comprising a member made of a unitary piece of sheetmetal, said member being blanked to form a pair of rearwardly extendingspaced apart brackets, at least one spring element blanked fromv eachbracket and extending outwardly from the rear end i of said bracket andforwardly toward said plate, the forsaid-brackets and induces a springor resilient tension therein for firmly supporting cases 26, 26a and26b,

respectively, therebetween.

Furthermore, by determining the shape and dimensions of elements 21 and42, the outwardly extending spring bows 22 and 43, respectively,engaging mounting plate 16 by snap action will exert inward pressureupon respective brackets 18 and 41 to reinforce the engagementbetweenlugs 39 and notches 23 or 45, respectively.

In some embodiments of the. present invention, the paired notches 23 or45 in each bracket 18 or 44, respectively, may be replaced by aninterior row of single, spaced apart slots or notches, any one of whichis selectively engageable by a single'lug on a corresponding side of aswitch case for suspending the latter between said brackets in a desiredposition relative to the mounting plate. 7 In such an embodiment, it maybe desirable to elongate such. substituted slots or notches toaccommodate correspondingly widened switch case lugs in order to'enhancethe stability of the assembly.

being blanked to form from the central portion thereof a pair ofrearwardly extending resilient brackets. integral with said member, saidbrackets being further blanked to form on each side thereof a pair ofresilient spring elements extending outwardly from the rear ends of saidbrackets and forwardly toward said plate, the remainder of, said. memberforming an integral frame formed of a pair of; ver-ticalflanges, andhorizontal flanges: adapted ward ends of said spring elements engaging apair of opposing edges of said aperture by snap action to maintain saidadapter in position on said plate, and a plurality of spaced apartnotches in each bracket'formed at varying distances from the inner endthereof, said notches being selectively engageable by a switch case tobe suspended between said bracketsin a desired location relative tosaidmounting plate, said spring elements urging said respective bracketstowards each other to ensure engagement of said switch casetherebetween.

3. An adapter for attaching a switch case to' a mountingplate having anaperture therein, comprising a member made of a unitary piece of sheetmetal, said member being blanked to form a pair 'of rearwardly extendingspaced apart brackets, at least one spring element blanked from eachbracket and extending outwardly from therear end of said bracket andforwardly toward said plate, the forward ends of said spring elementsengaging a pair of opposing edges of said aperture by snap action tomaintain said adapter in position on said plate, and a plurality ofspaced apart notches formed along two side edges of each bracket, saidnotches being selectively engageable one on each side in pairs bycorresponding pairs of switch case elements for suspending said switchcase between said brackets in a desired location relative to saidmounting plate, said spring elements urging said respective bracketstowards each other to ensure engagement of saidswitchcase therebetween.

4. An adapter for attaching a switch case to a mounting plate having anaperture therein, comprising a member made of a unitary piece of sheetmetal, said member being blanked to form a pair of rearwardly extendingspaced apart brackets, a spring element blanked from each edge of eachbracket and extending outwardly from the rear end of said bracket andforwardly toward said plate, the forward ends of said spring elementsengaging a a pair of opposing edges of said aperture by snap action tomaintain said adapter in position on said plate, and a plurality ofspaced apart notches formed along two side edges of each bracket, saidnotches being selectively engageable one on each side in pairs bycorresponding pairs of switch case elements for suspending said switchbetween said brackets in a desired location relative to 7 said mountingplate, said spring elements urgingfsaid respective'brackets towards eachother to ensure engagement of said switch case therebetween.

5. An adapter for attaching a switch case to a mounting plate having anaperture therein, comprising a member made of a unitary piece of sheetmetal, said'member being blanked to form a pair of spaced apart.brackets extending rearwardly from the resulting central aperture insaid member, the remainder of said member surrounding its aperturehaving the form of a frame'constituted of a pair of end flanges and sideflanges integral with each a) other, at least one spring element blankedfrom each bracket and extending outwardly from the rear end of saidbracket and forwardly toward said plate, the forward ends of said springelements engaging a pair of opposed edges of said plate aperture by snapaction on one side of said plate to cause said flanges to be urged flatagainst the other side of said plate, and a plurality of spaced apartnotches formed in each bracket at different distances from the inner endthereof, said notches being selectable to cooperate with correspondingelements on a switch case to be suspended between said brackets in adesired location relative to said first mentioned side of said plate,said spring elements urging said respective brackets towards each otherto ensure engagement of said switch case therebetween.

6. A switch assembly comprising a mounting plate, an aperture in saidmounting plate, a switch case, a plurality of engaging means on each oftwo sides of said switch case, an adapter for mounting said case on saidplate, said adapter being made of a unitary piece of sheet metal, thecenter portion of said adapter being blanked and bent to form a pair ofspaced apart, rearwardly extending brackets, a plurality of receivingmeans on each of said brackets, said engaging means cooperating withsaid receiving means to mount said case between said brackets, andresilient means on each of said brackets engaging said plate by snapaction to maintain said adapter in position on said plate and urgingsaid brackets toward each other to ensure the cooperation of saidengaging means and said receiving means.

7. A switch assembly comprising a mounting plate, an aperture in saidmounting plate, a switch case, engaging means on each of two sides ofsaid switch case, an adapter for mounting said case on said plate, saidadapter being made of a unitary piece of sheet metal, the center portionof said adapter being blanked and bent to form a pair of spaced apartbrackets extending through said aperture and rearwardly of said plate, aplurality of receiving means arrayed along each of said brackets, saidengaging means cooperating with selected ones of said receiving means tomount said case between said brackets in a selected position relative tosaid plate, and resilient means on each of said brackets engaging saidplate by snap action to maintain said adapter in position on said plateand urging said brackets toward each other to ensure the cooperation ofsaid engaging means and said receiving means.

8. A switch assembly comprising a mounting plate, an aperture in saidmounting plate, a switch case, engaging teams on each of two sides ofsaid switch case, an adapter for mounting said case on said plate, saidadapter being made of a unitary piece of sheet metal, the center portionof said adapter being blanked and bent to form a pair of spaced apartbrackets extending through said aperture and rearwardly of said plate, aplurality of receiving means arrayed along each of said brackets, saidengaging means cooperating with selected ones of said receiving means tomount said case between said brackets in a selected position relative tosaid plate, and resilient means on each of said brackets engaging saidplate by snap action to maintain said adapter in position on said plate,the shape and dimensions of said resilient means being determined toenhance the cooperation between said engaging means and said receivingmeans.

9. A switch assembly comprising a mounting plate, an aperture in saidmounting plate, a switch case, engaging means on each of two sides ofsaid switch case, an adapter for mounting said case on said plate, saidadapter being made of a unitary piece of sheet metal, the center portionof said adapter being blanked and bent to form a pair of spaced apartbrackets extending through said aperture and rearwardly of said plate, aplurality of receiving means arrayed along each of said brackets, saidengaging means cooperating with selected ones of said receiving means tomount said case between said brackets in a selected position relative tosaid plate, and resilient means on each or" said brackets engaging saidplate by snap action to maintain said adapter in position on said plateand urging the respective brackets inwardly toward each other to enhancethe cooperation between said engaging means and said receiving means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,160,713 5/39Bentley 17453 2,309,189 1/43 Hancock et al. 24827 2,703,662 3/55 Meyer248-27 X 2,889,125 6/59 Hart 248-27 2,917,199 12/59 Appleton 220-3.73,091,679 5/63 Norden 339128 LARAMIE E. ASKIN, Primary Examiner.

JOHN P. WILDMAN, JOHN F. BURNS, E. JAMES SAX, Examiners.

2. AN ADAPTER FOR ATTACHING A SWITCH CASE TO A MOUNTING PLATE HAVING ANAPERTURE THEREIN, COMPRISING A MEMBER MADE OF A UNITARY PIECE OF SHEETMETAL, SAID MEMBER BEING BLANKED TO FORM A PAIR OF REARWARDLY EXTENDINGSPACED APART BRACKETS, AT LEAST ONE SPRING ELEMENT BLANKED FROM EACHBRACKET AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM THE REAR END OF SAID BRACKET ANDFORWARDLY TOWARD SAID PLATE, THE FORWARD ENDS OF SAID SPRING ELEMENTSENGAGING A PAIR OF OPPOSING EDGES OF SAID APERTURE BY SNAP ACTION TOMAINTAIN SAID ADAPTER IN POSITION ON SAID PLATE, AND A PLURALITY OFSPACED APART NOTCHES IN EACH BRACKET FORMED AT VARYING DISTANCES FROMTHE INNER END THEREOF, SAID NOTCHES BEING SELECTIVELY ENGAGEABLE BY ASWITCH CASE TO BE SUSPENDED BETWEEN SAID BRACKETS IN A DESIRED LOCATIONRELATIVE TO SAID MOUNTING PLATE, SAID SPRING ELEMENTS URGING SAIDRESPECTIVE BRACKETS TOWARDS EACH OTHER TO ENSURE ENGAGEMENT OF SAIDSWITCH CASE THEREBETWEEN.